Lucky Money

Installation, 2024

3D print, installation

The bottle return process is managed by MOHU, a subsidiary of MOL, which was appointed by the Hungarian government to oversee the domestic waste management system. This not only portrays the environmentally harmful oil company in a more positive light, but also provides them with extra revenue, as they profit from the returns.

The glass bottle return system introduced in Hungary in 2024 is fundamentally a good initiative, as it can help reduce our ecological footprint. Additionally, the deposit fee serves as a strong incentive to prevent empty bottles from ending up in the trash. Furthermore, the return system (in my opinion, indirectly) has the effect of providing extra income for society’s lower-income groups, as they can exchange found bottles for money.
However, this often nonsensically qualifies as an offense, as according to a 2012 law, aluminum cans and bottles thrown in the trash are considered municipal waste, which individuals are not allowed to collect. The fine starts at 65,000 HUF (approximately 170 EUR) and can reach up to 90,000 HUF (approximately 235 EUR).

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